Tamenglong, August 18 2010: Nine Little girls of Zeme tribe from Tousem Sub-Division in Tamenglong district, who were rescued from an ill-organised children home in Bangalore, were reunited with their parents today.

The children were formally handed over to their respective parents by the Child Welfare Centre, Tamenglong during a reception organized by Indigenous Women and Child Foundation (IWCF), Tamenglong and Zeme Pui Baudi, Tamenglong at Zeme Naga Baptist Church Complex, Tamenglong.

The children were brought from Bangalore to Manipur by Social Welfare Department, Government of Manipur and Child Welfare Centre, Tamenglong.

Deputy Commissioner of Tamenglong, K Panmei, SDO, Tamenglong, C Arthur W and SDO, Tousem, Dinganglung were present at the reception.

Representatives of Zeliangrong Student's Union, Zeme Naga Council, Manipur, Principal of Immanuel Theological Seminary and other social leaders participated in the reception programme.

Speaking on the occasion, DC Panmei appreciated the efforts of the CWC, Tamenglong and the two SDOs of Tamenglong and Tousem in making necessary arrangements to bring the children home safely.

However, he expressed shock over the menace of human trafficking indulged in by some local men.

Human beings are not to be traded, the DC said adding that this should be stopped immediately.

He said, the culprits, who were involved in child traffick must be given befitting punishment so that exploitation of human beings should not occur again in the district.

The DC opined that church has a great role to take in spreading awareness among the people against the evil of human trafficking.

Today is a great day for the Zeliangrong people for the little girls had been rescued before the worst befell them, DC Panmei said.

Zeme Naga Council, Manipur also expressed profound gratitude to the district administration, Social Welfare Department, Government of Manipur and CWC, Tamenglong for bringing back the lost children.

GH Newmei, President of ZNC said that the Zeme people are generally backward in economy and education.

The Zemes live from hand to mouth.

He urged the district administration to construct a hostel particularly for the people of Tousem Sub-Division in Tamenglong district HQ. In his introductory speech, Kinderson Pamei, Chairperson of CWC, Tamenglong said that earlier the CWC, together with the Social Welfare Department, Govt.of Manipur had rescued 52 children in the month of February this year.

But at that time they did not have any information about these children.

He said, some parents along with Paul Nambuing Newmei, who took the children to Bangalore, requested him to rescue the children.

The Director of Social Welfare Department, Govt.of Manipur, the Probation Officer and he went to Bangalore and Chennai together for verification of their complaints and request.

Finally they found the nine children remaining in an unfit place without studying, and then the process started to rescue them, he narrated.

Talking to reporters today, one girl, Iheupeu (14), daughter of Namreiwang of Aben village, said that they had no problem in 2007 and 2008.But the warden had shifted them from one place to another.

Finally in 2010, they were deprived of education.

'We wanted to return to our birth-place and learn Manipuri language.

We wanted to be with our parents', another 12 year-old girl, Benramyi said.

The nine Zeme girls rescured from RTC Girls High School are Rateubuile (9), d/o Taiwangkam of Aben village, Ijelia (9), d/o Hangchei of Inem, Beramyi (12), d/o Ipung of Aben, Romila (12), d/o Thuankiulung of Namtiram, Rating (10), d/o Teuliang of Mandeu, Hingnamyi (13), d/o Ramching of Aben, Iheupeu (14), d/o Namreiwang of Mandeu, Ekiakle (10), d/o Taleibe of Mandeu and Nchale (9), d/o Rakouding Tousem.

They left their parents for free and good education in 2006- 2007 .

Comment